Season ticket holders at Stade de la Maladière haven’t seen too many victories this season, with Neuchâtel Xamax languishing in the 8th position so far. The guesting Aarau will be hopeful to defend their higher league position in this one.
- Neuchâtel Xamax have the most conceded goals in the first half (18) in Challenge League
- Aarau have the most scored goals (48) in Challenge League
There has not been much time to rest for the guests, as they played a Swiss Cup game only four days ago.
This stadium uses artifical turf, unlike Aarau's home stadium. The visitors last six games on artifical turf have ended in 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss.
Neuchâtel Xamax form and stats
7 victories, 1 draw and 6 defeats. That’s what Neuchâtel Xamax have to build on here at Stade de la Maladière in the Challenge League.
Neuchâtel are returning here after visiting Grasshopper in a Challenge League game and winning with a 4-1 scoreline. J. Mbock and L. Mafouta (3) scored the goal(s). In the match before that, Neuchâtel hosted Stade Lausanne-Ouchy and drew the game 0-0.
L. Mafouta was absolutely essential when Neuchâtel beat Grasshopper 4-1, scoring three goals.
This is expected to be a close game, with Neuchâtel perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Neuchâtel Xamax as a small favourite), we find ten games. Neuchâtel Xamax has won four of these, drawn five and lost one.
Neuchâtel Xamax has scored 18 league goals at home this season, in 14 matches. Neuchâtel Xamax have conceded 17 in these home matches. There's been improvement defensively lately, as only 1 of these goals has been conceded in their last 3 home matches.
Aarau form and stats
Playing away, Aarau, who have the most scored goals (48) in Challenge League, have won 4 games, drawn 3 and suffered 6 defeats in the Challenge League this season. With two straight losses from their last two away games, Aarau are hoping that it's time for some travel points again.
Impressive finishing from L. Bergsma, Mickael Almeida and S. Gashi secured the home win 3-0 against Winterthur in their previous game. Prior to that match, a home win 1-0 against FC Schaffhausen in the Challenge League.
As mentioned above, this is an open game with no clear favourite. We have found eight similar matches played by Aarau in our archives, and the results are: four wins for Aarau, one draw and three defeats.
Aarau have a decent goal production going in their away games, although not fantastic. In 13 league away games 18 goals have been scored. It's been trouble in front of goal recently, as only 2 of these goals has been scored in their last three away matches. Defensive performances away have varied in quality as Aarau have conceded 23 goals on the road. For more goal statistics, check out the Statistics tab above.
Head 2 Head
The dueling parties have met before this season: Aarau - Neuchâtel Xamax 4-0. Head-to-head totals (for the last ten meetings): Neuchâtel won four games, one match ended with a draw and Aarau has five wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: eight / twoTop Goalscorers
  L. Mafouta 13 goals |  F. Stojilkovic 9 goals |  S. Gashi 7 goals |
Neuchâtel Xamax missing players
Aarau missing players
| Neuchâtel Xamax | Aarau | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 27 | 14 | 4 | Played | P | 5 | 13 | 27 |
| 9 | 7 | 3 | Won | W | 2 | 4 | 12 |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | Drew | D | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 16 | 6 | 1 | Lost | L | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| 30 | 18 | 8 | Scored | S | 6 | 18 | 48 |
| 45 | 17 | 4 | Conceded | C | 6 | 23 | 40 |
| 96% | 93% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 80% | 92% | 93% |
| 74% | 71% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 80% | 85% | 81% |
| 59% | 57% | 75% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 40% | 54% | 67% |
| 33% | 14% | 25% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 40% | 38% | 48% |
| 11% | 7% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 23% | 19% |
| 41% | 36% | 25% | BTTS | BTTS | 40% | 69% | 67% |
| 19% | 36% | 50% | Clean Sheets | C S | 40% | 15% | 22% |
| 44% | 36% | 25% | Failed to Score | F T | 40% | 23% | 19% |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2.4 | 2.3 | 2 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1 | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 7.6 | 8.1 | 7.5 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 9.4 | 8.5 | 9.2 |
| 3.4 | 3.9 | 4.5 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 4.4 | 4 | 4.3 |
| 32% | 33% | 44% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 27% | 35% | 43% |
- Aarau have the fewest matches under the total-line (10) in Challenge League
- Aarau have the most scored goals (48) in Challenge League
- Neuchâtel Xamax have the fewest dropped points from leading position (2) in Challenge League
- Neuchâtel Xamax have the most conceded goals in the first half (18) in Challenge League
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Grasshopper | 27 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 46 | 32 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 27 | 14 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 51 |
| 2 | Thun | 27 | 14 | 5 | 8 | 44 | 35 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 22 | 9 | 47 |
| 3 | Stade Lausanne-Ouchy | 27 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 41 | 28 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 44 |
| 4 | FC Schaffhausen | 27 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 45 | 35 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 42 |
| 5 | Aarau | 27 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 48 | 40 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 23 | 8 | 42 |
| 6 | Winterthur | 27 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 40 | 37 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 3 | 35 |
| 7 | Wil | 27 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 26 | 36 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 24 | -10 | 31 |
| 8 | Neuchâtel Xamax | 27 | 9 | 2 | 16 | 30 | 45 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 28 | -15 | 29 |
| 9 | Kriens | 27 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 28 | 37 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 18 | -9 | 26 |
| 10 | Chiasso | 27 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 23 | 46 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 28 | -23 | 24 |